Christmas Carnival

The ornaments Jasmine and Laura painted themselves.

Laura sitting on Santa's lap so she could get a picture for herself.

Laura decorating a paper tree with stickers.

My daughters Tasha and Megan after face painting.

Jasmine and Laura playing with their stretchy yo-yo balls.

Laura and Megan having a blast.

Jasmine and Laura painting ornaments. And to think I let them wear white.

Laura coloring a picture for the K-9 unit.

Laura getting her face painted.

Playing a laser shoot game.

The younger girls seeing Santa. Megan wanted nothing to do with him.

We went to our little town's Christmas Carnival. The girls' all had a blast. There was games and crafts and, best of all, Santa. Laura was always afraid of Santa when she was younger. This year, she not only saw him once, but went twice just so she could get a picture with him without her sisters. Megan, at 19 months, wanted nothing to do with Santa. Jasmine, who thinks she's too old, went so she could hold Megan. It worked out that I got a picture of all three younger girls with Santa. It may be one of the last times as Jasmine is nearly a teenager.

Santa isn't Jesus. However, there is just something magical about those few years where a child is awestruck by Christmas and Santa and all the traditions from sitting on Santa's lap to reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve. In our house, we make sure Jesus is at the center of our Holiday. We love making memories that will last a lifetime.